Netanyahu on course to lead ‘corona govt’

OCCUPIED AL-QUDS: Has the coronavirus saved Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu? The sense of urgency created by the pandemic has opened the way for the right-wing premier to stay in power as head of a "corona government" despite his corruption indictment.

After more than a year of political impasse and three elections that ended in deadlock, Netanyahu’s main rival Benny Gantz on Thursday agreed to join an "emergency unity government" to fight the deadly outbreak.

In the process former army chief Gantz saw his own alliance split apart, dividing the most serious opposition Netanyahu has faced since coming to power in 2009. Such a scenario seemed unlikely, almost impossible, only weeks ago.

In November Netanyahu, Israel’s longest serving leader, became the first in the history of the country to be indicted in office on a series of corruption charges that he denies. His Likud party had won fewer seats in a September election than Gantz’s centrist Blue and White and political obituaries were being readied.

He and Gantz were at each other’s throats and coalition talks failed, forcing a third election in 12 months on March 2, with Gantz vowing to never serve under an indicted prime minister. Yet Netanyahu pulled off a shock recovery, with his Likud beating Blue and White by three seats, though still three short of a majority in the 120-seat parliament. But by then the Jewish state was feeling the first effects of the coronavirus.